Ko shares lead as rain halts Coates Championship

Lydia Ko of New Zealand plays a shot on the 14th hole during the second round of the Coates Golf Championship at Golden Ocala Golf Club on Friday in Ocala, Florida.AFP PHOTO

MIAMI: World No.1 Lydia Ko is tied for the lead at seven-under par after rain suspended play during the second round of the LPGA Tour’s Coates Golf Championship on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

The 18-year-old New Zealander was able to nearly complete her round Thursday and was at four-under after 17 holes when play was halted due to thunderstorms in the region around the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club course in Ocala, Florida.

South Korea’s Jang Ha-Na, the 18-hole leader, is tied for the top spot with Ko. Play was stopped before Jang got a chance to tee off. Not long after the stoppage, at least seven greens were under water.

Ko has a 15-foot putt remaining on her final hole of the day to finish the round. She even joked with the others in her group about being in the clubhouse with just one shot remaining.

“On the par-five we were talking about when is the rain going to come and all that. I said, ‘Hey, I’ve never been suspended where I have got one putt to go or I’m on the green,’” Ko said. “Then the girls were saying, ‘Ah, now that we said it, it’ll probably happen.’ And guess what? It did.”

Japan’s Haru Nomura and Malaysia’s Kelly Tan are tied for third at six-under. Nomura completed her round and made seven birdies while carding a 66 for a two-round total of 136.

Tan was on the third hole when play was suspended.

Ko said she played much better than during her first round of the season on Wednesday, when she opened with a 69.

“I felt more comfortable,” Ko said. “I was pretty pleased to see all my balls finish in the fairway.”

Lin Xi-Yu and Lizette Salas are tied for fifth at five-under par through 16 holes.

More than a dozen players are tied for seventh at four-under par, including Suzann Pettersen, rookie Chun In-Gee, Juli Inkster, Lexi Thompson and Michelle Wie, who will all return on Friday to finish their second rounds.

A total of 22 players completed the second round on Thursday, while 27 players have yet to tee off.